HIGHLIGHTS

Agriculture posted a 0.37 percent growth in 2009. The year on year gains in the first three quarters of the year did not offset the huge production losses incurred during the fourth quarter of the year. Except for crops, all the subsectors managed to post some output increments. At current prices, agriculture grossed P1.2 trillion, representing a 2.18 percent increase from the 2008 level.

The crops subsector which contributed 46.80 percent to total agricultural output registered a 1.42 percent decrease in production. This was largely attributed to the weather disturbances that hit the country, particularly during the fourth quarter of 2009. Production of palay declined by 3.31 percent while that of corn increased by 1.53 percent. Coconut famers produced 2.20 percent more output but sugarcane came down with 10.77 percent less output. Other gainers were banana, cassava, eggplant, peanut and tobacco. Crop production was valued at P632.0 billion at current prices, up by 0.08 percent in 2009.

The livestock subsector recovered from last year’s downturn and managed to grow by 1.24 percent during the year. Its share in total agricultural production was 12.47 percent. Hog production recovered from last year’s slump and grew by 1.16 percent. Outputs in cattle and dairy farms went up by 2.49 percent and 3.33 percent, respectively. Gross value of livestock production was P196.0 billion at current prices, indicating a 6.50 percent increase from the 2008 record.

The poultry subsector came up with a 1.82 percent increase in production this year. It represented 14.33 percent of total agricultural output in 2009. Chicken production went up by 1.53 percent. Chicken egg also put up a 5.04 percent production gain during the period. Both duck meat and duck eggs posted production declines. The subsector grossed P144.3 billion at current prices or 9.97 percent higher than the previous year’s record.

The fisheries subsector expanded by 2.45 percent during the reference year. The subsector accounted for 26.40 percent of total agricultural output. Commercial fisheries produced 2.67 percent more output this year. Production in aquaculture and municipal fisheries slowed down as a result of damages caused by weather disturbances during the fourth quarter of 2009. Their respective growth rates were 2.89 percent and 1.14 percent, respectively. The gross value of fisheries production was P215.6 billion at current prices, down by 0.08 percent from the 2008 record.

On the average, farmgate prices went up by 1.81 percent this year. Except for fisheries, all subsectors registered price increases. The poultry subsector posted the highest price increment of 8.01 percent. This was followed by the livestock subsector where prices went up by an average of 5.20 percent. Prices of agricultural crops were quoted 1.52 percent higher during the period. Meanwhile, prices of fishery products were lower by 2.46 percent from last year’s quotations.